Transducer device



EXAMLQ 0 5 n u 1 Mm X in 1 A j m M i M M w L. E. DAILEY TRANSDUCERDEVICE Filed July 11 1960 Sept. 3,1963

ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,102,535 TRANSDUCER DEVICE Leon E.Dailey, Gary, Ind., assignor to Dailey Ultrasonics, Inc., Gary, hit, acorporation of Indiana Filed July 11, 1960, Ser. No. 42,034 3 Claims.(Cl. 128-24) The subject invention relates generally to an electricalappliance and more particularly is directed to a device commonlyreferred to as a transducer which is utilized for physical therapy.

Devices of the above character have proven very beneficial in thevibratory or sound treatment of various internal physical infirmitiessuch as arthritis, rheumatism, sprains, dislocations and strainedligaments, muscles and the like and are being progressively used by themedical profession, athletic directors and masseurs.

One of the principal objects of the subject invention is to provide atransducer device which is comprised of a minimum number of componentsor parts which can be economically manufactured on a production basis.

More particularly in the above respect the device includes a head orenlargement and an elongate tubular portion which are preferably cast orformed in one piece.

Another object of the invention is to provide the head with recesses forrespectively receiving a pressure member or applicator and an elementoperatively connected to the member.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device in which acooling medium or agent, such as oil, is not required to condition orcool the pressure member and element.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a device in which thepressure member and element above alluded to are operatively connectedin a unique manner.

A significant object of the invention is to provide a metal screw plugfor an open end of the tubular portion and fasten a conductor or groundwire thereto in a novel way so as to afford an eflicient electrical andmechanical connection between said plug and portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which includesa handle grip attached to the tubular portion in a manner whereby toenclose the plug and support a cable containing the above mentionedconductor including a conductor which is connected to the element.

Additional objects of the invention reside in providing a device whichis relatively light in weight, safe to operate, efficient in operationand durable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent afterthe description hereinafter set forth is considered in conjunction withthe drawing annexed hereto which exemplifies a preferred form of theinvention.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the device;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational side view, with portions in section toillustrate details of construction;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the head of the device, when looking in thedirection of the arrows 33 in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 4-4 ofFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is one end view of the device; and

FIGURE 6 is a partial section showing the mode of connecting a conductoror ground wire to a plug carried by a tubular portion of the device.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the device preferablyincludes an elongate cast or one-piece tubular body generally designated1 provided with a head 2 and a tubular portion or extension 3. The headis elongate and offset at an oblique angle with reference to thelongitudinal axis of the extension. The headis also provided with achamber 4 and the extension with 3,102,535 Patented Sept. 3, 1963 a bore5 communicating with the chamber. The head is further provided with anannular large recess 6, an annular smaller recess 7 adjacent the recess6 and a tapered recess 8 adjacent the recess 7 as depicted in FIG- URE2.

The free end of the extension 3 is preferably internally threaded at 9for detachably receiving a tubular externally threaded plug 10. The plughas a squared portion 11 to facilitate manipulation of the plug and alsohas an inner face or end portion to which a tubular braided conductor orground wire 12 is soldered as indicated at 13 in FIG- URE 6.

A cable or conduit 14 extends through the plug and into the extension 3.An insulated conductor wire 15 and the ground wire 12 are confined inthe conduit. The ground wire 12 surrounds the wire 15 and terminatesadjacent the inner end of the plug for connection with the plug asstated above. The wire 12 serves as a return through the metal body andshields the wire 15 to prevent external interference.

An annular pressure or applicator member 16 is seated in the largeannular recess 6 in the head and an annular element 17 responsive toelectrical impulses is disposed in the recess 7. The inner end of theconductor wire 15 is soldered to a short stranded conductor wire 18 andthe latter is soldered to the element as indicated at 19. A sleeve ofinsulation 20 surrounds the soldered connection between the conductors15 and 18 and adjacent portions of the latter. The chamber 4 and taperedrecess 8 afford clearance for a surplus of the wires disposed thereinand clearance between the soldered connections and the head to preventelectrical contact. The member 16 is preferably press-fitted and securedin the recess 6 by cement 21 and the element 17 by a bonding agent 22which will be described subsequently.

The extension 3 includes a portion 23 adjacent the head and a reducedcylindrical portion forming a shoulder or abutment 24 at the junctionbetween these portions. A resilient tubular handle grip of insulatingmaterial 25 is cemented or otherwise secured about the reduced portionof the extension with its inner end engaging the abutment 24. The outerend of the grip is provided with a recess 26 which substantiallyconforms to and receives the outer extremity of the plug =11 asevidenced in FIGURE 2. This end of the grip is also provided with anaperture 27 which snugly receives the cable 14 extending therethrough.Attention is directed to the fact that a portion of the free end of thegrip extends about and beyond the end of the extension 3 as well asabout and beyond the end of the plug 11 in order to conceal theextension and plug and at the same time protect same, including thecable. That portion of the grip surrounding the cable aflords aresilient support therefor so as to substantially prevent breakagethereof at the point of entry into the plug.

Thegrip includes an upper portion and an annular portion thereofadjacent its fore end which are preferably provided with ridges orcorrugations 28 and the underside of the grip is undulated at 29 topromote a good gripping action or hold on the device.

Referring more specifically to the pressure member and element themember is preferably constructed of metal and the element preferably ofa ceramic material which is preferably permanently united with the rearside or face of the member by a bonding agent or cement 22 known asEpoxy which has proven the most elficient and reliable of any presentlyknown.

The physical principle employed to generate ultrasonic energy utilizesthe piezo-electric phenomenon peculiar to ceramic crystals. When theelement or crystal is subjected to an electrical field the elementexpands along one axis and contracts along another. The elements may becut or formed to oscillate at any particular frequency and function onlyat the frequency for which it is prepared. Thus, having selected thedesired frequency at which an ultrasonic generator is to operate thetransducer element, the element is cut to conform and the oscillator isdesigned to produce the same frequency. Therefore, by applying theoscillating electrical current from the oscillator through the cable tothe element or crystal, the element alternately expands and contractssynchronously with the oscillations applied to it to produce or createmechanical motion.

According, it will be manifest that the sequence in the function of thegenerator is creation of high frequency electrical current in anoscillator system, application of this current to a ceramic element inwhich it is converted to mechanical motion, transmittance of this motionthrough the force of the pressure member or applicator to which theelement is bonded and transmission of this motion into the area of anindividual to be treated when the member is brought into contacttherewith. The element may be constructed of any desirable material butceramic material has proven most satisfactory as it will notdisintegrate or fracture, as compared to a quartz element, whensubjected to electrical impulses or shock when the device isaccidentally dropped.

The structure above described also offers a setup whereby oil, which isutilized in some conventional transducers, is not required, therebyreducing the wattage needed for efficient operation.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousmodifications may be made in the same without departing from the spiritof the invention, and, therefore, I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement, andcombination of parts herein shown and described.

I claim:

1. A massage device of the kind described comprising a body having ahead provided with a chamber and a reduced tubular portion extendingfrom the head, an exposed pressure disc member carried by the head forengagement with a human body and a disc element responsive to electricalcurrent mounted on the member, a metal plug carried by the tubularportion, an insulated electrical conductor extending through the plug,tubular portion, into the chamber and electrically connected to saidelement, and a conductor wire electrically connected to said plug.

2. A subassembly for use in a massage device, said subassemblycomprising a metal pressure member, a ceramic element united with saidmember, a short insulated stranded conductor having one end soldered tosaid element, another insulated conductor wire and means connecting thesame to the opposite end of the stranded conductor, and a flexiblesheath of insulation surrounding said last-mentioned connection andportions of said conductors.

3. A device of the kind described comprising an elongate body having ahead provided with an integral reduced tubular cylindrical portion ofappreciable length internally threaded at one end, a tubular externallythreaded plug engaging the threaded end of said portion, a resilienthandle grip surrounding said tubular portion and provided with a portionextending beyond said tubular portion and said plug and surrounding atleast a portion of the latter.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,255,553 Funk Sept. 9, 1941 2,728,869 Pohlman Dec. 27, 1955 2,830,578De Grofi Apr. 15, 1958 2,876,764 Guttner et al Mar. 10, 1959 FOREIGNPATENTS 531,947 Great Britain Jan. 14, 1941 1,025,720 France Ian. 28,1953 1,040,035 France May 20, 1953 OTHER REFERENCES ElectronicEngineering, page 391, September 1950. (Copy in Division 55.)

2. A SUBASSEMBLY FOR USE IN A MASSAGE DEVICE, SAID SUBASSEMBLYCOMPRISING A METAL PRESSURE MEMBER, A CERAMIC ELEMENT UNITED WITH SAIDMEMBER, A SHORT INSULATED STRANDED CONDUCTOR HAVING ONE END SOLDERED TOSAID ELEMENT, ANOTHER INSULATED CONDUCTOR WIRE AND MEANS CONNECTING THESAME TO THE OPPOSITE END OF THE STRANDED CONDUCTOR, AND A FLEXIBLESHEATH OF INSULATION SURROUNDING SAID LAST-MENTIONED CONNECTION ANDPORTIONS OF SAID CONDUCTORS.